Resolution would privatize KC animal shelter

KANSAS CITY — If all goes according to plan, Kansas City's animal shelter will become privatized on March 1.

A city council resolution expected to be introduced today would turn the shelter over to a private veterinarian who aims to reduce the kill rate and increase animal adoptions. The shelter euthanizes around 5,000 homeless dogs and cats per year.

The measure would turn the shelter over to R. Wayne Steckelberg, a 74-year-old veterinarian who ran animal hospitals for decades and worked as a salaried vet at the city shelter. Steckelberg would receive $600,000 annually for staffing and expenses, which would save the city $200,000 per year.

His primary goal is to boost the number of adoptions from the current 90 per month to 300 or more.